Metro

Police: bus driver who ran into LI house was drunk

The Catholic school mini bus driver, who crashed into a Long Island house yesterday while carrying five young students, was drunk behind the wheel, police said.

“It’s a miracle they weren’t hurt,” in the 3 PM Wednesday incident, said Nassau County Police Detective Vincent Garcia today at Police Headquarters in Mineola.

Garcia said Frederick Flowers, 66, was driving kids between the ages of five and eight years old – none of whom were hurt. No one was home in the residence at the time of the crash.

“It’s appalling,” said Garcia. “We try to keep the streets safe for the children of Nassau County.”

Garcia said Flowers, who had just left the St. Edward the Confessor grammar school across the street, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the accident and was rushed to a local hospital.

He said investigating officers suspected Flowers, of Massapequa, was under the influence, which was confirmed by a hospital blood test.

Flowers was charged with five counts of aggravated DWI under Leandra’s Law, five counts of endangering the welfare of a child and five counts of reckless endangerment.

Flowers was arraigned today in his hospital bed at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, and a judge set $50,000 bond or cash bail. He faces up to 1 1/3 to 4 years behind bars, if convicted.